Elderly couple suffer injuries in escalator fall

Security staff at a shopping mall were praised by emergency services staff for their quick thinking and first aid skills after an elderly couple fell down a moving escalator today in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

Horrified shoppers at the Royal Victoria Place Shopping Centre watched as first the woman fell down the escalator and then her accompanying male friend did the same, landing on top of her. Both pensioners suffered significant head injuries in their falls. The centre’s security staff and a passing shopper rendered first aid and dialled 999.

First on the scene for the South-East Coast Ambulance Service was local voluntary SIMCAS nurse Tony Kemp who said “this had the potential to be a very serious incident and the security team provided very high quality care to the two injured people from the outset.”

Both of the casualties were immobilised for spinal precautions at the scene and taken to the Kent and Sussex Hospital in Tunbridge Wells for further treatment.

Who are SIMCAS?

Founded in 1987, SIMCAS provide specially trained and equipped doctors or nurses to serious road collisions and other major incidents in the South East 24 hours a day. The charity is run entirely on voluntary donations - if you would like to help, find out how you can donate.